subject: The Lifeblood Of Your Vehicle [print this page] A vehicle has a need for a variety of different fluids that run throughout its systems to make sure it runs effectively. However, unlike a human being whose kidneys filters out these fluids and keeps them fresh, a car's lifeblood eventually becomes dirty, leaks out or simply dries up, which is why it needs to be replaced quite often and an eye must be kept on the levels with frequent fluid checks. Each different fluid has a unique purpose within the car, and there are so many different fluids to keep it all running. Between the fuel to the oil, to the coolants and beyond, even the antifreeze needs to be topped up from time to time to make sure everything is completely optimal for maximum vehicular and fuel efficiency.
The Fuel
It's pretty common knowledge that a car needs fuel to run. Gasoline, or other fuels if your vehicle is larger, is used in the engine to create combustion, which is used to pump the pistons up and down. This motion turns the motor which generates electricity that the car can use to run all of its systems. Without any fuel in the fuel systems there is no combustion, so nothing happens in the engine. The problem is if fuel is left in the pipes it can grow stagnant, and the build-up of fumes can cause damage. This is usually only a problem in long-term storage, which is why it's important to go and turn your car on for a few minutes every so often when it's stored away, to keep the lines from getting too dried up and rusty.
The Coolant
Because the engine runs on combustion, it can get quite hot. This is where another of the system's vital fluids comes into play; the coolant. The coolant is a fluid that absorbs the heat from the engine and helps to keep it cool. The coolant is quite important to make sure that the vehicle keeps from overheating, and general inspections should be performed regularly to make sure the coolant remains efficient and the tank it's stored in remains full. If the engine overheats, then it can be severely damaged and engine repair costs significantly more than simple fluid checks and replacement coolant, so it's always in your best interest to keep the coolant at good levels.
The Oil
Oil is a very crucial part to an engine's performance. Engine oil is used to keep all of the parts moving properly, and to prevent friction from building up and causing many problems. Oil is used as a lubricant to make sure all the moving parts move smoothly and evenly, without any rubbing or lost energy. The more friction that's built up the more energy is expended to move them. This means more fuel has to be burned to have the same output as normal if the oil is dirty or failing to do its job. Fortunately it's relatively easy to check the oil of your car and the tools are available to most common people to perform oil changes themselves if they know what they're doing.
